Amritsar (Punjab) [India], June 3 : Congress Lok Sabha MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla on Tuesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing concerns about the security of Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar and demanding that the area be declared a "no-war zone."
"I earnestly appeal to the Government of India to initiate steps for NO WAR ZONE and protected status to Sri Harmandir Sahib, under a framework that ensures: Permanent, non-political, high-level security for the shrine like Vatican City. International recognition and protection under humanitarian and interfaith harmony principles as per UNO. A clear mechanism to prevent any future military, political, or strategic targeting of this sacred place," Aujla said in the letter.
Highlighting the global and national significance of the Golden Temple, which is revered by millions worldwide regardless of their religion, Aujla said that it has become urgent to safeguard the sacred institution with "permanent, non-political, high-level security."
"In the wake of recent war like situations, it has become an urgent need of the hour to safeguard this sacred institution with the highest level of permanent and global security," the letter read.
His demand comes after Major General Kartik C Seshadri earlier claimed that Pakistan's prime target was the Golden Temple, according to information received from the intelligence, an attempt which was thwarted by the Indian army on May 8.
"A recent claim by a senior officer of the Indian Army, of the rank of Major General, stated that Pakistan Air Force had targeted the Golden Temple. This claim is not only alarming but has raised deep concern among the Sikh community worldwide. Given the sensitive geographical and political nature of the region, such threats-- whether real or perceived--pose a risk to national security and global religious harmony," the letter further read.
"Any threat to it--real or claimed--has the potential to disturb world peace and affect inter-community trust and harmony. Such perceptions must not be allowed to take root," Aujla added.